Sky Sports will showcase more women's rugby league than ever before in 2022 after the Rugby Football League confirmed a number of regular-season matches in the Women's Super League will be broadcast live this year.
The WSL has expanded in size for 2022, with the competition now featuring 12 teams competing across two groups of six. Last year, Sky showed the play-off semi-finals and the Grand Final, which was won by St Helens as they defeated long-time rivals Leeds Rhinos.
And as well as repeating that commitment this year, Sky will also broadcast two regular-season matches - the first of which is a Grand Final rematch between the Saints and the Rhinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Thursday, June 23.
Leeds' home match with Wigan will also be shown on Sky Sports, on Thursday, July 21. Both matches kick off at 5:30pm.
It is yet more good news for the women's game, which continues to go from strength to strength. The 2022 competition begins on the weekend of May 15 when the Saints begin the defence of their title with a mouthwatering derby against Wigan. Leeds will have a West Yorkshire derby with Castleford, while Group 1 is complete with a meeting of York City Knights and Huddersfield Giants.
The Group 2 fixtures on the opening weekend see Barrow host Warrington, Leigh Miners Rangers facing Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls squaring off with Featherstone, a repeat of the inaugural WSL Grand Final in 2017.
Helen Falkus, Sky Sports Director of Multi-Sports, said: “We’re delighted to be providing our customers with more live Women’s Super League matches than ever before with the addition of two regular season games. Showcasing these games as double-headers alongside the men’s Super League games will provide greater visibility for the women’s game as it continues to grow. We’re proud of our continued commitment to the sport of Rugby League here at Sky Sports and very much look forward to the upcoming season.”
Thomas Brindle, the RFL’s Head of Growth and General Manager of the WSL, said: “Every season brings significant steps forward for Women’s Rugby League, and confirmation that Sky Sports will show live coverage of two regular season fixtures, as well as the semi-finals and the Grand Final, is a great announcement to make as we publish the fixtures.
“Sky’s live coverage of the last two Grand Finals in 2019 and 2021 was a huge boost to the profile and prestige of the WSL, and this is further evidence of their great support of Women’s Rugby League. The decision to split to two groups of six in 2022 has been taken to ensure greater quality as well as quantity, with a focus on England Women’s preparations for the home World Cup at the end of the season.
“After the frustration and disappointment of the Covid-enforced postponement of the 2020 season, 2021 was a year of real progress and encouragement, with the launch of the Women’s Super League South, and a number of new girls competitions and teams.
“That trend has continued for 2022 with a total of 140 teams spread across almost 50 clubs – compared to 78 teams in 2019 and 98 last year – and already this year we’ve seen Salford Red Devils play their first match against Swinton Lions, and we welcome Oxford Cavaliers to BWSL South.
“The appointment of Jodie Cunningham as National Women’s and Girls’ Development Manager last November has strengthened the RFL team – and as ever we are grateful to the many volunteers who have helped to drive the development of the Women’s and Girls’ game, and delighted that more and more continue to do so.”
